Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

208 reviews

reginaexmachina's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang aka a cute cover masking a knife to the heart aka the crushing mental load of late diagnosed autism and extreme burnout aka sky high family expectations aka the second book I have read this month featuring a online violin sensation aka home of one of the best book boyfriends aka Helen pouring her heart and soul out on the page for all of us to see in its messy glory and then putting it back together again in some amazing way.

This is a romance in that it has a love story and a happy ending for the couple BUT it is extremely heavy and quite sad. I have never felt angrier on behalf of a heroine, and mainly because of her family and not romantic interests (although Julian really pissed me off, too).

You should read this, but be ready, it deals with terminal illness and caregiver burnout in an extremely detailed and heavy way. Please check the CW. But if you can make the space? Do it.

Also? QUAN!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

👍🏻 Recommended. It’s heartbreakingly beautiful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism

poppymopey's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a heavy book that mostly deals with emotional abuse and trauma. Heed the TW before reading it, it's not just romance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

haley49's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This was story was a hit for me. I really enjoyed Anna and Quan as characters and I loved how they always built each other up. They actually had hard things happen in their lives and they were there for each other.

I wish we could’ve seen more in the 3rd part particularly in Anna working through her issues and seeing how Quan supported her but I understand why Hoang didn’t do that.

I really identified with parts of Anna’s inner turmoil and found myself wanting her to figure the answer so I could. This is definitely an emotional and heavy book in the latter half and I believe you should keep that in mind before/while reading it.

I wish the differences between Anna and Priscilla were solved, but in the end, it felt realistic and comforting to know that we’ll be okay even if not everyone in our family reconciles. Another bittersweet theme to add to this book. Also, while I’m being nitpicky, I did feel that the unevenness’s and realness of the character’s conflicts made it feel less like a romance and made Quan a bit too perfect but that’s okay:)

There was 🌶 but it takes a backseat more than previous books did in this series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Death of parent

Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Medical content, and Grief

Minor: Bullying and Suicidal thoughts

vel629vet's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was not romance. It was women’s lit. It was excellently written, with her most developed main character to date, but it was heartbreaking and depressing. Unfortunately just not at all what I was signing up for in this series that has been insightful but fun so far. I do think this is an important story about autism and ableism, but it just wasn’t romance. I think putting it as the 3rd in this romance series honestly did the story injustice. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

atamano's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Grief

Moderate: Cursing and Death of parent

thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition

emotional reflective

5.0

This isn't your typical romance novel and that's what makes it Anna's (and Quan's) story. Parts of this book were hard to read because they deal with end-of-life care. Other parts of this book I related to too hard. But I loved all of this book and most of it made me want to cry.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Infertility, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Minor: Infidelity and Vomit

araceli1022's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, and Suicidal thoughts

chantalknits's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Cancer and Medical trauma

ladythana's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Suicidal thoughts